Nailsea & Backwell RFC 43 - 14 Longlevens Rugby
In a battle of third vs second in the league, the Ravens knew they were up against it with the visit of Longlevens who earlier in the season had given the Ravens a 50 point defeat in Gloucester.
The visitors started the brighter with former Saracens Centre, Tom Griffiths, opening the scoring early. The Ravens then started to assert themselves on the game with Charlie Cox going over for a try from a 20 metre maul, followed by Joe Reed and Leo Delazarri.
The young Ravens who were running the ball from everywhere and finding holes in the Longlevens defence saw Hooker, Harry Radford, capture the bonus point before half time. Alex Jones converted to make the score 22-7.
The second half saw the Raven defence really assert themselves on their physically larger opposition. Ben Morris, Alex Jones and Cory Love making tackle after tackle to stop any go forward from their opposition.
After frustrating their more experienced opponents and from another maul, replacement Jack McCormick got on the end to claim another try which Alex Jones converted.
Longlevens responded with a try from Full Back, Jake Fox, but McCormick had found a home guiding the maul to the try-line for his brace. Jones finding his groove with the boot to make the game over at 36-14.
With the last play of the game, Ben Perfect made a break down the wing and when the ball was recycled quickly Adam Grafton put Charlie Bircham Davies in for the try of the game to round off a superb performance.
Coach Tony Hill said ‘We had game planned all week for what we thought they would bring and the boys defended brilliantly. Yann (Thomas - Forwards Coach) really got the boys fired up at training and they showed everyone what they are capable of. My challenge to them is to back it up next week’.
N&B are home to Cheltenham North 2.30pm kick off.
